NFL Legend Mark Gastineau Calls Out NFL for Abandoning Former Players

posted by Mark Weiner & Andrew Magnotta -

New York Jets great Mark Gastineau says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will not respond to his requests to meet regarding the league's concussion problem.

Gastineau, 61, played nine seasons in the NFL, all with the Jets. Last year he revealed that he's been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia.

He says he is waiting for approval of his diagnosis to receive compensation as the part of the NFL's Concussion Settlement. He says his case was previously rejected by the league, but he's not sure why.

Goodell and Gastineau go way back; Goodell got started in the NFL as a public relations intern for the Jets in 1983.

Gastineau referred to the commissioner as his former "ball boy" and pleaded with him to keep his promise to help former players dealing with CTE from their playing careers.

Although Gastineau saw Goodell in person about a year and a half ago and the commissioner offered to help him, Goodell isn't returning his calls.

The five-time Pro Bowler gave the interview alongside his wife Jo Ann. and his lawyer Jason Luckasevic.

He told McCarthy that he used to get hit so hard during games that his helmets would break. He says the degenerative conditions from which he is suffering are a result of those repeated blows to the head while playing football.

Gastineau says he's sometimes not able to get out of bed until late in the afternoon.

"There’ll be days I get up and I’m good," he said. "I’ll tell you, and my wife will tell you, she helps me get out of bed. She’ll helps me remember names.”

He continued saying he doesn't want "zillions of dollars" in compensation from the league he risked everything to help build, he just wants "to be treated with respect."